Concern about Potala permitting process | Letter

We own a condo on Lake Street South, less than a block from the proposed Potala development at the corner of Lake street South and 10th Ave. We have considerable concern about the course of the permitting process for the Potala application.

February 5, 2014 4:06 pm
Letters
Letters

We own a condo on Lake Street South, less than a block from the proposed Potala development at the corner of Lake street South and 10th Ave. We have considerable concern about the course of the permitting process for the Potala application.

The earlier project application showed no provision for site remediation, even though the site had contained a gas station and a dry cleaner, the most common urban site contaminators. Since groundwater from the site almost certainly flows beneath Lake Street and under existing residential units on the west side of the street, proper remediation is essential at the Potala site.

More recently, the developer has requested that renters be required to pay for on-site parking, even though we understand this is not permitted in other residential developments. The developer has also requested that tandem on-site parking be allowed. Again, this is not allowed for other developments. The out of scale size of the proposed project would create major traffic problems for Lake Street, and, with the other items requested, would greatly exacerbate existing on-street parking conditions.

We are pleased to learn the city has engaged an environmental consultant to monitor on-going clean up work. We hope and expect the city will hold the Potala developer to the same standards as other developers and firms such as Google.

Considering the understandable skepticism, we believe it is essential the permitting process proceed with care and precision

George and Linda Lamb, Kirkland